SARATOGA SPRINGS >> With on-the-board finishes in a pair of French group races this past spring, Kenzadargent appeared to have a significant class edge on her nine rivals in Wednesday’s seventh race. The main question was whether the 4-year-old filly was ready to run in her first start stateside.

The answer came in the last furlong when Kenzadargent, who’d been last out of the gate and still had four horses to pass at the quarter-pole, came flying down the lane to win the one-mile allowance/optional claimer by a length. The daughter of Kendargent was clocked in 1 minute, 35.34 seconds over firm ground.

“We’ve had the horse a couple of months, and she’s been training super,” said winning trainer Chad Brown, who took over for the French-based Jean-Claude Rouget. “She came over to me in terrific shape. We thought this was a good spot to get her started. If she comes out of this race in good shape, we’ll run her back in a graded stakes.”

Almurra made the early running, kept company by AE entrant Lil Honey Badger. Kenzadargent made up ground on the turn, and had a clear run through the stretch, collaring Almurra just outside the furlong pole, and edging away for the victory as the 6-5 favorite. Fade to Black closed well for the place.

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Irad Ortiz Jr. was in the irons for Brown and owner Martin Schwartz. Kenzadargent improved her record to 2-7-1 from 13 starts, and has now banked $186,816.

Race 1

When Bodie Island and Virsito met in an allowance/optional claimer over jumps here on July 20, Virsito got the best of his rival, out-finishing him and Chairminster to get up by a neck. On Wednesday, competing under the same conditions – this time at 2 3/8 miles – Virsito once again rallied through the lane, but this time he came up short, as Bodie Island held on by a head.

Meganisi made the early running, with Bodie Island not far back. The latter took over as the horses passed under the wire for the second time, establishing distance between himself and the rest of the field during the final run down the backstretch. Bodie Island had a four-length lead approaching the 11th hedge. He cleared it with no trouble, but then, after drifting out, had to withstand the closing rush of favored Virsito to get the money.

Kieran Norris was aboard the Elkstone Group homebred for trainer Richard Valentine. Bodie Island, a son of Kafwain, improved his record to 4-1-4 from 16 starts over jumps.

Spy in the Sky finished third, 2¼ lengths behind Virsito. The 10-year-old gelding a long-time Grade 1 performer whose victories include the 2009 New York Turf Writers’ Cup and 2012 A. P. Smithwick Memorial, was claimed for $30,000 from Randleston Farm. He will compete next for Colvin G. Ryan, with George Weaver taking over as trainer.

Race 3

Captain Gaughen seems to do his best running when he gets out of the gate well. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened very often. In this one mile allowance/optional claimer, however, the 4-year-old Disco Rico gelding – under new rider John Velazquez – got good position early, and when the time came, put away pacesetter Karakorum Legend to secure a three-quarter-length victory.

Never more than a length back through the early going, Captain Gaughen took over from the leader just inside the eighth pole. Favored Sanctify (3-2) stormed into the picture inside the final sixteenth, but Captain Gaughen successfully kept him at bay. Majestic Raffy closed well for third, a neck back of the favorite. The running time was 1:35.49 over a firm Inner Turf course.

The winner, a Patricia Generazio homebred, sports a 3-1-4 record from 19 starts and lifetime earnings of $137.244. He paid $21.20 to win as the 9-1 next-to-last choice in the field of seven New York-breds.